BBC Studios retains Holby City after competitive tender

The BBC One medical soap will continue to be produced by BBC Studios for the next three years.

The long running show was put out to tender last year as part of a move that sees all existing BBC Studios network television programming put out to competition over the next 11 years.

BBC invited pitches from all producers to consider the editorial vision and ambition for the series.

The BBC said the tendering process also tested value for money and the ability to deliver the best quality programme for viewers at the best price.

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, who led the evaluation team for the tender, said: “Following a strongly fought competitive process, the evaluation team and I have agreed that BBC Studios will continue to produce Holby City for the next three years. Their pitch demonstrated new and innovative ways to develop the show into the future and deliver efficiencies. They were successful against published criteria including value for money and editorial innovation. I would like to thank all the producers for their time and creativity in this process.”

Holby City is the third show to be put out to tender. BBC Studios won the first tender for A Question of Sport, while Avanti Media and Nine Lives Media recently won the tender for Songs of Praise.

Suppliers have also been invited to pitch ideas for Horizon – with bundles of commissions based on the strength of their proposals.

Further titles will be announced for future tenders during 2017. The titles being tendered will be across the BBC’s Drama, Entertainment, Comedy and Factual slates.

Mark Linsey, Director of BBC Studios, said: “I am delighted that we will continue to make Holby City, the much loved award-winning drama that is enjoyed by millions of viewers each week. We put forward a strong bid which demonstrated the team’s creativity, expertise and passion for making the show. We look forward to creating more compelling storylines and showcasing new and diverse talent on the programme.”